Abstract: A time sound generating device which generates a time announcement sound by detecting a change of time from a portion of a display element driving signal supplied to a time display element of a digital electronic clock and by driving an audio sound signal source by the detected time signal.

Abstract: An alarm clock has a clockwork which drives a 12-hour display and a waking contact which is settable over a 12-hour range. The contact works into a mono-flop or flip-flop to generate a signal in each successive 12-hour cycle at the time set by the contact and this signal is applied to a flip-flop which can energize a signal generator via circuitry ensuring the application of only one signal from the timing flip-flop during each 24-hour period.

Abstract: A wake-up alarm is set to ring in some time interval. One or more physical characteristics of the sleeping subject, including brain wave activity, pulse rate, REM activity, muscle tension, body temperature, hearing acuity, positional changes and the like are monitored to determine whether the subject is in a deep or shallow-sleep phase. If the subject is in the deep-sleep phase throughout the alarm time interval, the alarm is inhibited until the end of the alarm interval. The inhibiting of the alarm ends as soon as the subject goes into a shallow-sleep phase.